Building construction



March 30, 1937. R-L. DAvlsoN 2,075,338

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 2, 1955 :s sheets-sheet 1 rl/ .,f/ l 7/ .f/ l/ r/ f/ I r/ INVENTOR ROBERT L. D/wlsowl BY l I Mach 3o, 1937.

R. DAvlsN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug, 2, 1935 3 rllllllllllllllllllllll,

Iliff/AVI IIE- Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ROBERT L. zDAwSON ls je@ 30 'e629 30 R. L. DAVISON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed Aug. 2, 1935 INVENTOR R BERT L.DAV|5ON ToRNx-:Y l

mh 3o, 1937.

Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PATEN T CFFICE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Robert L. Davison, New York, N. Y., mignon to John B. Pierce Foundation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 2, 1935, Serial No. `34,352

(Cl. 'Z2-46) 10 and to one another.

Advantageously, in assembling the walls of the building a skeleton framework, including relatively widely spaced parallelly arranged uprights, is erected to conform to the contour and desired height of the walls, and prefabricated panel units are thereafter positioned in end-to-end horizontal alignment to form courses, each unit extending between adjacent uprights and being secured thereto. .One or more of the courses so formed may comprise panel units of a reduced horizontal length, to an end or ends of which may be secured window construction to compensate for the length reduction of the panel units, and to provide, in connected relation to these shorter panel units, a length capable of spanning the distance between two uprights.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a number'of embodiments of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a building construction embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is 'a horizontal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, and.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. '1, there is shown a building resting on a plurality of piers I0 sunk into the ground I I, which building comprises a plurality of base members or panels I2, a plurality of lower panels I3, windows I4 and I5, panels I6, I'I, I8 and I9 and a roof 20.

The base panels I2 rest on the piers I0 and may be the base elements of-the building construction or may be a structure which encloses a structural steel base element; in either event there extends upwardly from the base panels I2, uprights, inclusive of the corner uprights preferably in the form of angles 2I Fig. 3, and intermediate uprights, preferably in the form of channels 22, Figs. 3 and 4. I'he various panels I3, I6, l1, I8 and. I9 are tied at their ends to the uprights 2| and 22, or in some instances one or the, other end of the panels I6 and Il is tied to, or has tied thereto, a window construction such as windows I4 and I5, one end of such window construction being in turn either connected toa corner upright 2| or intermediate upright 22.

. Referring to Fig. 3 wherein is shown a sectional plan view on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1, the corner upright 2l and the intermediate upright 22 are shown in section spaced apart from each 10 other. Attached to such uprights are the panels I3,'such panels presumably resting upon the base panels I" The panels are preferably made of prestressed microporite, and are manufactured in accordance with the invention of Frederick O. 15

Anderegg described and claimed in application Serial #41,473, filed Sept. 21, 1935 and entitled Method of reinforcing building units and products produced thereby. I am not to be limited to the use of panels manufactured according to said patent application, and panels of any suitable material may be employed. Such panels, preferably, comprise the angle frame member 23, thek microporite, or other material of cement body 24the prestressing rods 25 and facing 26 of Morbelli cement, or other facing material, such facing cement 26 being securely attached by the at head screws 28 and 29, around the periphery of thepanel I3 to angle members 21, welded or otherwise secured to the peripheral angle frame 3 23.

The M01-belli cement above referred to is a I hard cementitious composition, impervious to moisture and produced preferably in sheet form, according to the disclosure of the co-pending 3 application for U. S. Patent Ser. No. 469,935, filed `July 22, 1930, by Giovanni Morbelli, entitled Processes for obtaining a quick-setting and hardening asbestos-cement resistant against corrosive waters.

. 40 'I'he angle members 21 are arranged at spaced intervals around the peripheral angle members 23. and such members have preferablywelded thereto and extending through a perforation therein a threaded bolt 30. 'Ihe angle uprights 45 2l and panel uprights 22 are provided at proper intervals with perforations 3| through which the threaded bolts 30 extend and nuts 32 threading on the bolts 30 hold the panels I3 securely in position.

50 Advantageously, the wall panels inclusive of y the base panels I2, the panels I3, the panels I3 and I'I, and the panels IBVand I9, have respectively, their lower and upper edges formed for jointing relationship with units adjacent upperly 55 and/or lowerly thereof. Accordingly the upper edges of the base panels I2 and the lower edges of panels I3 are coniigurated for mutual interlocking; the upper edges of the panels I3 and .lower edges of the panels I6, and the lower edges ofthe panels I'I are likewise congurated for mutual inter-locking; also the upper edges'of the panels I6 and I'I and the lower edges of the panels I8 and I9, respectively are configurated for mutual inter-locking, the inter-locking of the respective panels being accompanied by the insertion of sealing or caulking material 33, Fig. 4. preferably in the form of a mastic composition. The panel I3 is placed iii position with its bottom edge resting on the top edge of the base panel I2, and the bolts 39 slipped through the perforation 3I in the angle upright 2 II and panel upright 22 and securely bolted in position by means of nuts 32 and bolts 3o. 'f'

There is shown in Fig. 3 a panel I3 which ex.- tends at right angles to the front of the building structure, and the end of vsuch panel I3 is attache'd` to angle upright 2l in the manner above described. The panels I3 extending at right angies to each other dene a rectangular chamber 34 which may be closed in any suitable manner,

as by an upright 35 placed in position shown, and secured in position by the mastic adhesive 36.

The attachment of the panel I3 to the corner It is obvious that the nuts 38 are placed on the threaded ends of the bolts 31 prior to the sealing up of the chamber 34 by the use of the member 35 and mastic 36.

On the inside of the wall structure composed of the panels I3 and arranged end to end, as shown in Fig. 3, and as a sealing member for sealing in the panel uprights 22, I utilize a member 40a, of a width to t easily between adjacent ends of' the panels I3 and of a thickness such that when the inner face is resting on the channel member 22, the outer or exposed face'will be substantially flush with the inner face of the panel I3. This member 40a is preferably `sealed in position by means of the mastic 4I.

The panels I3 as shown in Fig. l and as above described with regard to Fig. 3, constitute generally the lower panel course about the building structure shown in Fig. 1, and resting on such course is the second course composed generally of panels, such as panels I6 and I1 and windows I4 and I5. In Fig. 1 one end of each ofthe' windows I4 is shown as connected to the corner upright 2I, and the window I5 is shown as having one end connected to one of the panel members 22. In Fig. 2 thepanel member I6 is shown having its e'nds connected respectively to the panel member 22 and one of the windows I4.

Referring to such Fig. 2, the panel I6 has one of its ends connected tothe upright 22 by bolts 30', which boltsare similar to the bolts shown in Fig. 3, and such panel I6 rests on the top of the panel I 3. The right hand end of the panel I6 has connected thereto the window frame for the window I4.l Such window frame is designated generally by the reference numeral 42 in Fig. 2, and the same is connected to a peripheral member 43 of the panel I6 by the screws 44. Mastic 45 is utilized between the member 43 and the Window frame `42 to maintain a tight joint therebetween. A similar construction is shown in regard to the window I5,'where the frame portion 4'6 thereof is connected to the panel uprights 42 by the screws 41.

The top and bottom edges of the various panels may be all similar, or may be of any desired cooperative form. Several different forms are shown in the drawings, notably in Figs. 4` and 5. In Fig. 5 is shown one form which may be given to the upper edge of the panels I3; in such form the upper peripheral edge includes an angle member 48, one portion of which extends upwardly as indicated by the reference numeral 49. In such form the Morbelli cement facing 26 is upturned and is secured to the angle member 4I by the screws 50. The upturned member 49 and the Morbelli facing 26 for such angle member constitute a vertically l arranged tongue which cooperates with a groove formed in the lower edge of the panel I1. Such groove is formed in the panel I1 by a metallic member 5I which has secured to the lower front edge thereof, by screws. 52, the Morbelli cement facing 26. In assembling the panel I'I in position on the top of the panel I3 the groove 5I has placed therein a mastic cement 53. The weight of the panel II iiows the mastic cement into and around the tongue formed by the angle 49 and Morbelli facing 26 so as to produce a weather-tight joint be-l tween the upper edge of the panel I3 and the lower edge of panel I1.

Another form of connecting joint between the upper and lower horizontal edges of the various panels is shown in Fig. 4 where the upper edge of the panel I1 cooperates with the lower edge of the panel I9. In the panel I'I, the upper edge has formed therein the angie member 54 and such angle member 54 has one portion 55 thereof extending downwardly from the portion 54. In this form the Morbelli facing 26 is folded onto the outer face of the downwardly extending portion of the angle 54 and is secured thereto by screws 56. In this figure, the lower edge ofthe panel II has formed therein the angle member 51 having a downwardly extending portion 58, and secured to such downwardly extending portion 59 by welding, or in some other similar or :desired manner, is a small angle member 59 which lies horizontal and has secured thereto by the screws 60, the Morbelli facing 26. There is thus formed in the lower edge of the panel I9 a downwardly extending lip 6I and there is also formed in the upper edge of the panel II a recess slightly greater than the thickness of the lip 6I. Therefore when the lower edge of the panel I9 is in position in the upper edge of the panel I1 the Morbelli facings 26 lof such panels will lie in the same vertical plane.

In Fig. 4, there is also shown the'means for connecting the roof and ceiling to the upper edge of the panel I9. The upper edge of the panel I9 is for this purpose preferablylconstructed in a manner similar to the upper edge of the panel I3 shown in Fig. y5. The angle member 48 hassecured thereto by screws 62 an angle member 63, one portion 64 of which extends downwardly in engagement with the inner face of the upper edge of the panel I9. Securetkto the portion 64 of the angle 63 is an angle mem r 66 which acts as a support for the roof panels Also secured aovassa to the member 64 of-the angle 63, by screws 88, is an angle 69 to which is secured the ceiling panels 10. The portion 49 of the panels 48 has secured thereto, by screws 1I, blocks i2 of microporite'or other similar or suitable material, to which is attached `the flashing 'I3 of the roof, which ashings extend downwardly over the front of the upper edge of the panel I9, as indicated by the reference numeral I4 in Fig. 4.

10 The angle formed by the ceiling slab 'I0 and. the inner face of the panel I9 may be finished oil by a corner molding 19, or other similar construction.

The panels I6 and I'I maybe made of any width l or length desired and with their upper and lower edges constructed to conform with the desired construction of the upper and lower-edges of the panels I3 and I8 respectively. The panels I3, I8 and I 9 have been described as having diierent 20-characteristics, but obviously the construction of such panels may be identical. The space in the panel uprights 22 closed by the members 40a may be utilized as a conduit for wires, pipe and 'the like, and also the chamber 3d' may be used.

for a similar purpose.

A building constructed according to my present invention may be prefabricated in substantially standard units of a size relatively easy to handle and theA building itself may be erected by rela- 30 tively unskilled labor.

Whereas, I have described my invention by reference-to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes 'and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit oi. the invention.A

I claim: l In an improved building construction, the combination of a skeleton framework, having spaced parallelly arranged upwardly extending 40 members, said members comprising corner structural-angles, having their vertices directed outwardly, and intermediate structural channels having their anges directed inwardly, prefabricated panel units spanning the space between ad- 45 jacent uprights, each of said panel units having an outer member that partially encloses said adjacent uprights, and an inner member tting between said adjacent uprights, and means for securing the ends of the panels to the uprights.

2. In an improved building construction, the

combination of a skeleton framework having parallelly arranged upwardly extending members, said members comprising corner structural-angles having their vertices directed outwardly, andl intermediate structural channels having their flanges directed inwardly, prefabricated panel units spanning the space between adjacent uprights, each of said panel units having an outer 60 member that partiallyencloses said adjacent uprights and an inner member tting between said adjacent uprights, and means extending between Athe inner members of adjacent panels for boxing ,in the skeleton framework.

65 3. In an improved building construction, a

panel comprising a circumferential metallic member substantially rectangular in form, rods extending'between opposite ends of the rectangular framework, a relatively light porous material fillv 70 ing the space within the rectangular framework and-having a filling member greater in supercial extent than the space within the rectangulai` framework, and a facing of relatively hard,

impervious cemetitious material secured tothe 75 outer face of the panel.

4; In an improved building construction, the combination with a rectangular framework of angle iron or similar material, of a panel arranged in and secured to the rectangular space defined by the angle iron, said material being of greater thickness than the thickness of the rectangular space, said extra thickness being formed on the front of the panel and being co-extensive with the outer peripheral edge of the rectangular framework defined by the angle members, and a facing of relatively hard, impervious material being secured to the facial area of the panel and having its peripheral edges mechanically secured to the peripheral edge of the face portion of the panel.

5. In an improved building construction, a prefabricated panel unit comprising a circumferential framework, a relatively light porous material filling the space included within the framework and having a filling member greater in supercial extent than the spacewithin the framework, means for retaining'said material within said framework and a facing of relatively hard, impervious, cementitious material secured to the outer face of the said filling member. l

6. In an improved building construction, the combination of a skeleton framework having relatively widely spaced parallelly arranged uprights extending upwardly a distance equal to the desired wall height; and a plurality of prefabricated panel wall units, long horizontally as compared to their height vertically extending in horizontal alignment around the said skeleton framework to form courses of the wall structure, each unit extending between two of 'the said uprights and being secured thereto at its ends, the courses being built up vertically and bonded to adjacent courses at locations of join'der; at least one course comprising units embodying panel sections of a reduced horizontal length, and window frames secured to said panel sections, a panel section and a window frame or frames together formi-ng an individual unit for spanning the distance between two of said uprights, and for securement at their free ends thereto. l

'7. In an improved building construction the combination of parallelly arranged vertical uprights, associated to define the general ywall contour of the building; prefabricated lpanel wall units assembled in end-to-end horizontal alignment around said associated uprights to form courses of the wall structure, each of said wall units comprising a structural framework and a filler member therefor and each of said wall units extending between and partially enclosing, two

ladjacent uprights; means for securing said wall units to their respective uprights; means integral with each of said wall units for joining vertically adjacent units of vertically adjacent courses to one another; and inserts secured at vertical joints between units to complete the enclosure of said uprights.

8. In an improved building construction, the combination of parallelly arranged vertical uprights, inclusive of corner uprights of angle-iron, the vertex of the angle being directed outwardly,

Aand intermediate uprights of channel-iron the flanges of the channel being directed outwardly, associated to define the general wall contour of the building; prefabricated panel wall units assembled in end-to-end horizontal alignment around said associated uprights tovform courses of the wall structure, each of said wall units comprising a structural framework anda iiller mem- 9. In a building construction, closely associated.

prefabricated panel units, each of said units comprising a circumferential frame member; a filler member partially enclosed by and partially enclosing said frame member; means securing said 15 filler member to said frame member; a Weather proof facing covering the outside face of said filler member, means 'securing said facing to said frame member, and means for joining contiguous edges of adjoining panels and Weather sealing the joints so formed.

10.v In a building construction, uprights associated to define thegeneral wall contour of the building, prefabricated panel wall units, each having a horizontal length greatly exceeding its vertical height and each extending between two adjacent uprights and being secured thereto, the assembled wall units extending in horizontal alignment around the periphery of the said associated uprights, and in vertical alignment upwardly thereof.

ROBERT L. DAVISON. 

